Two years on from the COP21 meeting in Paris, the approach is to now analyse where Mexico stands regarding the climatic commitments adopted at the summit. The aim of the agreement is to restrict the increasing temperature to “well below 2°C” with respect to the preindustrial era. The experts estimate that a reduction of between 40% and 70% between 2010 and 2015 is needed in order to keep below 2°C. The deadline is COP24 at the end of 2018 in Poland.    

In the two-year report on climate change, we found that among the measures taken by Mexico, the implementation of the General Law on Climate Change (LGCC) in 2012 was the key figure. It set ambitious targets for the reduction of emissions and also included the development of planning tools that help ensure the communication and coordination between the different Governmental departments.

The LGCC set optimistic mitigating goals for Mexico; this includes a 30% reduction of emissions by 2020, and a 50% cut by 2050 in relation to 2000, it also wants an increase in the generation of green energy to 35% by 2024. While these targets are a real challenge for our country, they also put us at the forefront of the countries making a conscious effort to achieve results, which will benefit both society and the world.   

In terms of innovation among the business community in Mexico, thanks to the agreement there has been an increase in efficiency and better practices in the industrial sector, particularly within smaller industries, such as:

• Regulations and standards have been introduced as well as incentive programs to regulate future energy consumption, even in the energy service market.
• Better practices are being adopted both by the production chains and the end users.
• Products made as a result of green technology are now being certified.

The macroeconomic impact of the 2030 reduction forecasts a 23% increase in investment and a 5% growth in GDP, with a reduction of the unemployment rate by 4% (INE, 2011).

This means fugitive emissions are reduced with improved international, viable practices being introduced as a result of the new governing structure of the sector. New methods need to be found to reach geographically isolated gas fields, especially in terms of non-conventional gas deposits and deep water. Operational industry practices need to be assured with more competence and transparency so new international products can be introduced. In sectors such as in electricity generation and industrialization, there needs to be an increase in the use of natural gas to move away from the more heavily intense carbon fuels (coke, fuel oil and diesel).

Thanks to the reconversion of refineries there is an increase in the use of heavier and more intense carbon fractions, increasing the production of lighter hydrocarbons. A research, innovation, development and adaptability platform of climatic technologies has been put to use in the sector. An example of this is the development of carbon catching and storage systems. It is still too early to see concrete results from the industry as a whole, but there are signs, for example in the car industry, that the use of renewable energy in production is something we should get used to[1].    

[1] First Two-year Update Report from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (2015) Sermarnat.

Two years on from the COP21 meeting in Paris, the approach is to now analyse where Mexico stands regarding the climatic commitments adopted at the summit. The aim of the agreement is to restrict the increasing temperature to “well below 2°C” with respect to the preindustrial era. The experts estimate that a reduction of between 40% and 70% between 2010 and 2015 is needed in order to keep below 2°C. The deadline is COP24 at the end of 2018 in Poland.    

In the two-year report on climate change, we found that among the measures taken by Mexico, the implementation of the General Law on Climate Change (LGCC) in 2012 was the key figure. It set ambitious targets for the reduction of emissions and also included the development of planning tools that help ensure the communication and coordination between the different Governmental departments.

The LGCC set optimistic mitigating goals for Mexico; this includes a 30% reduction of emissions by 2020, and a 50% cut by 2050 in relation to 2000, it also wants an increase in the generation of green energy to 35% by 2024. While these targets are a real challenge for our country, they also put us at the forefront of the countries making a conscious effort to achieve results, which will benefit both society and the world.   

In terms of innovation among the business community in Mexico, thanks to the agreement there has been an increase in efficiency and better practices in the industrial sector, particularly within smaller industries, such as:

• Regulations and standards have been introduced as well as incentive programs to regulate future energy consumption, even in the energy service market.
• Better practices are being adopted both by the production chains and the end users.
• Products made as a result of green technology are now being certified.

The macroeconomic impact of the 2030 reduction forecasts a 23% increase in investment and a 5% growth in GDP, with a reduction of the unemployment rate by 4% (INE, 2011).

This means fugitive emissions are reduced with improved international, viable practices being introduced as a result of the new governing structure of the sector. New methods need to be found to reach geographically isolated gas fields, especially in terms of non-conventional gas deposits and deep water. Operational industry practices need to be assured with more competence and transparency so new international products can be introduced. In sectors such as in electricity generation and industrialization, there needs to be an increase in the use of natural gas to move away from the more heavily intense carbon fuels (coke, fuel oil and diesel).

Thanks to the reconversion of refineries there is an increase in the use of heavier and more intense carbon fractions, increasing the production of lighter hydrocarbons. A research, innovation, development and adaptability platform of climatic technologies has been put to use in the sector. An example of this is the development of carbon catching and storage systems. It is still too early to see concrete results from the industry as a whole, but there are signs, for example in the car industry, that the use of renewable energy in production is something we should get used to[1].    

[1] First Two-year Update Report from the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (2015) Sermarnat.